Friendly rivalries and territorial touchiness aside, when it really counts, Mid-Ohio Valley schools are there for one another. That was proved again last week when the lights went out in Williamstown just ahead of the Class AA, Region I semifinal boys basketball game between Williamstown and Ravenswood.

A transformer had blown, plunging the gym into darkness and leaving coaches and administrators scrambling for a solution; though coaches also tried to turn it into a motivator.

“In talking with Mick, we have never experienced something like this — that’s the first time that has happened to us,” Williamstown coach Scott Sauro said. “I told the kids it was an adversity, a curveball. Obviously, we didn’t plan for this to happen. Whoever handles that adversity better will have a little bit of an advantage.”

Williamstown students will remember for a long time how they gave an assist to the soloist singing the National Anthem by completing the song even after the lights went out. But they should also remember how quickly Parkersburg High School Principal Jason Potts jumped into action when contacted by Williamstown Principal Jill Bryant. He told her to give his custodial crew five minutes to get the Memorial Fieldhouse gym ready.

So, the game tipped off a little late, after teams and fans made their way to PHS. Ravenswood nearly pulled off a miracle comeback, but in the end, Williamstown advanced. They will play at Doddridge County Thursday for the right to go to state.

They will do so after an important reminder: Our teams may compete against one another on the court, but when there is a challenge to overcome, we’re all in this together.